Register Citizen Artists of the Month: Students of St. Anthony's School

TORRINGTON >> The November Artists of the Month at the Register Citizen Newsroom Cafe are the art students of Valerie Berger, an educator at St. Anthony School in Winsted. Berger is very proud and enthusiastic about the work her students create, and selected artwork from each grade level, from pre-kindergarten to grade 8.

Berger's philosophy, which she shares with her students every class, is that art is everywhere. Unfortunately for many talented students, she said, the only place their art is displayed is at home or school.

"We at St. Anthony School teach our students to be a part of the community; sharing in this opportunity is a wonderful chance for them to share their creations with others," Berger said. "By being a part of the Artist of the Month Program, the students can experience what it is like to share their creativity and showcase their skills."

Berger believes that all artists -- adults and children -- deserve to be highlighted and honored. She chose individual pieces from each grade level as well as one grade level piece that was a collaborative effort. The group created work of art gives each student to be part of the showing.

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"Art is what you make it. I want my students to always be proud of their work and to never compare themselves to others. It is shared with them in each art class that the most important person who should like their art is themselves," explained Berger.

"'There are no mistakes in art' is a phrase that St. Anthony's students hear daily. They hear it but they don't always believe it," Berger continued. "Sometimes they try to challenge this, but we discuss their work and then find a solution to a picture (or) project that satisfies them."

The artists

First-grader Michael Gauthier, 6, and in first grade, created a painting of flowers. The flowers were done with oil pastels. He likes painting and mixing colors, making scarecrows with paper, coloring with crayons and making the Jesus and the Nativity.

Second-grader Lila Alderete, 7, has a drawing of a shirt in the exhibit. She likes to paint and use different colors, making rainbows and hearts. Almost every day after school, Lila colors a picture.

Third-grader Ryan Harrison, 8, drew a picture of trees using a combination of paint and yarn. He likes painting with water colors. Making the yarn tree, and choosing the colors for the trees was his favorite art project.

Fourth-grader Eleanor Bryda, 9, made a picture of a turkey. Her favorite thing about art, Berger said, is that there are no mistakes and she can draw whatever she wants. What she liked best about creating the turkey was that there were so many different colors to use.

Fourth-grader Ryan Carrigan, 9, also made a picture of a turkey. Ryan's favorite thing about art is that he can make all kinds of different things. If he makes a mistake, it can be fixed. What he liked best about creating the turkey was making the design of the feathers -- it was challenging but got easier as he got used to the brush, Berger said.

Fifth-grader Frankie DeSanti, 10, painted tribal people for the display. Frankie's favorite aspect of art is making something up with her imagination, because it is never wrong, it is your own. Her favorite part of the piece on display was making the details and colors.

"I liked putting random designs on the dresses and making the hats. I put earrings on to make them look prettier. It was fun thinking of the details and designs. I loved all the color because it makes it stand out," explained Frankie.

Fifth-grader Samantha, 10, made a pastel drawing of giraffes for the exhibit. Her favorite aspect of art is that she can be creative in every way.

"I get a chance to do something I love," explained Samantha.

Fifth-grader Sydney Kolosky, 10, also made pastel drawing of giraffes. "I like being creative and free to draw whatever I want," explains Sydney.

Sydney's favorite aspect of creating the work on display was using the oil pastels and drawing the giraffes and being able to take the time to get it right.

Sixth-grader Grace Barth, 11, made a painting of cherry blossoms, using the technique of straw blowing the paint.

"I liked making the branches," Grace said. "I was proud that it came out so nice."

Seventh-grader Caroline Germond, 12, painted an owl by painting watercolors over a white crayon outline. Caroline's favorite thing about art is making new creations, she said.

Seventh-grader Matthew Nichols, 12, also created an owl, using the same technique.

His favorite aspect of art is that it's fun and you can use your imagination to create anything.

Eighth-grader Grace Valickis, 12, made a scene of a tree that was created by weaving paper together.

"I liked using a combination of paints, crayons then adding in the weaving. I liked how it set a mood with the trees and that it involved many techniques," explained Grace. "I was very happy with the way it came out."

The grade level group projects use a variety of different mediums. The piece created by the eighth graders uses crayons in a new and inventive way. The pre-kindergarten piece is a flag creatively made out of their handprints.

The kindergarteners created another mixed media picture utilizing mismatched puzzle pieces shaped into a multi-dimensional tree. The fifth grade class created a mixed media backyard scene using burlap and bits of fabric.

Berger explained that the picture was created by taking individual pieces from the students' drawings, transferring them to fabric and then attaching them to the burlap to create the scene. The sixth-grade class found a way to create a city scene using paint chip cards found at your local paint supply store. The second-graders created a piece using circles that each student created.

Visit the Register Citizen Newsroom Cafe to see all the creative works of the St. Anthony's students. The Newsroom Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The students' works will be on display for the month of November.